Signs of Labor: How to Tell Real Contractions From Practice Ones
Many women feel tightening in the belly in the last weeks of pregnancy. Some of these tightenings are practice contractions. Others are the start of labor, and it can be hard to know which is which, especially with a first baby.
This article explains how real contractions and practice contractions usually differ, what other signs can mean that labor is starting, and when to call your maternity unit. For the full process once labor begins, see What Actually Happens During Labor: The Stages Explained.
Medical Disclaimer
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Quick Answer
Practice contractions, called Braxton Hicks contractions, are usually irregular and often stop when you rest, drink water, or change position (1). Real labor contractions become longer, stronger, and closer together, and they continue even when you rest. If you are unsure, call your midwife or maternity unit.
Practice Contractions vs. Real Labor Contractions
Practice Contractions
Practice contractions are the uterus tightening without starting labor. They are most common near the end of pregnancy. According to the NHS, they may be uncomfortable but are usually painless, they are brief, and they do not build up (2). They are also irregular, so there is no steady pattern.
They often stop when you change what you are doing. Resting, walking, changing position, or drinking water can make them ease. Fake contractions are common and are not a sign that something is wrong (3).
Real Labor Contractions
Labor contractions tighten and then relax the uterus. The NHS says they can feel like extreme period pain, and they become longer, stronger, and more frequent as labor goes on (2). Your belly gets hard and then softens again.
Unlike practice contractions, they do not go away when you rest or change position. They may even feel stronger when you move. Many women feel real contractions starting in the lower back and spreading to the front, although this is not the same for everyone.
A Quick Way to Compare
Ask yourself these questions:
- Are the contractions getting longer, stronger, or closer together? Real labor usually builds, and practice contractions usually do not.
- Do they stop when you rest, drink water, or change position?
- Are they regular, coming at a steady pattern?
- Is any fluid leaking, or have you had a show?
Timing your contractions for an hour can help. Write down when each one starts and how long it lasts, and notice whether the pattern changes. Sometimes the only way to be sure is to be checked by your midwife or doctor, so ask for help if you are not certain.
Other Signs That Labor May Be Near
The NHS lists these signs that labor has begun (2):
- Contractions or tightenings that build over time.
- A show, which is a sticky, pink, jelly-like mucus plug from the cervix.
- Your waters breaking, either as a slow trickle or a sudden gush.
A show means the cervix may be starting to change. Cleveland Clinic says labor may begin within hours or days, but it may also be a few weeks away (5). A show on its own does not usually mean you need to go to the hospital. Watch for contractions and follow the advice from your maternity team.
The NHS also lists backache and an urge to use the toilet (2). Backache alone does not tell you much, so look at the pattern of your contractions. The urge comes from the baby’s head pressing on the bowel, and it usually happens late in labor, close to the birth (6). Do not wait for it before you call.
What to Do in Early Labor
In early labor you will usually be advised to stay at home, and your midwife or unit will tell you when to come in. Local advice differs, so follow the instructions from your own maternity team. These steps can help while you wait:
- Walk or move around if you feel like it.
- Drink fluids and eat a small snack if you want one.
- Use the breathing or relaxation methods you have learned.
- Ask your birth partner to rub your back.
- Take a warm bath.
- Rest between contractions when you can.
If you would like to prepare before labor starts, see How to Actually Prepare for Labor for what really helps.
When to Call Your Midwife or Maternity Unit
Timing advice differs between countries and units. The NHS asks you to call when contractions come every 5 minutes or more often (2). The MedlinePlus guide “Am I in labor?” suggests calling for regular, painful contractions every 5 to 10 minutes for an hour (4). Ask your own team which pattern they want you to wait for.
Call right away, even at night, if:
- Your waters break.
- You have vaginal bleeding.
- Your baby is moving less than usual.
- You are less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you may be in labor.
- A contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes.
- You have 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes.
If you think your baby is coming now and you have a strong urge to push, call your local emergency number. If your waters break, use a period pad, not a tampon, so the color of the fluid can be checked (2). Tell your midwife right away if the fluid smells bad, is colored, or is bloody.
What happens after your waters break differs by place. In the UK, the NHS says labor usually starts within 24 hours, and induction is offered if it does not (2). Other providers are comfortable waiting longer and may ask you to come in for a check first, but a long wait raises the risk of infection (7). Ask your team how long they want you to wait at home.
Conclusion
Practice contractions and real contractions can feel similar at first. The biggest clues are the pattern and what happens when you rest. Real contractions build and continue, while practice contractions usually do not.
If you are unsure, call your maternity unit. There is no need to feel embarrassed about calling too early, because the team can help you decide what to do next. For what happens once labor is under way, see What Actually Happens During Labor: The Stages Explained.
For a more personal look at labor, see ParentIntel’s 14 Things They Don’t Tell You About Labor. For guides on every stage from early pregnancy to recovery after birth, see the pregnancy and postpartum guide hub.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Braxton Hicks Contractions.
- NHS. Signs That Labour Has Begun.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Is It Normal to Feel Fake Contractions?
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Am I in Labor?
- Cleveland Clinic. Mucus Plug.
- Texas Health Resources. Stages of Labor and Childbirth.
- Lamaze International. When Your Water Breaks and You Aren’t Having Contractions.
